Sports Ministry replies Okudzeto with details of structural works done on stadia NDC left

The Ministry of Youth and Sports has responded fiercely to what it describes as an attempt by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to discredit comprehensive structural works done on two national stadia in Accra and Kumasi.

Following the Confederation of African Football’s decision to withdraw approval for the Baba Yara Sports Stadium as a Category C match venue, due to the recent poor state of its pitch, Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa published a number of contracts awarded to renovate the Kumasi stadium and other national stadia and questioned work done of there is no suitable pitch.

The Ministry has, however, labelled Okudzeto’s assertion as “disingenuous”, pointing to the fact that the renovation works started in phases in 2017, and since then, in the past six years, Ghana has hosted all of its international matches at these venues and has also hosted international football tournaments.

“The statement by the MP sought to create the impression that monies were wasted without work done,” the Ministry stated in its reply.

”However, it should be noted that FIFA/CAF Category 2 and 3 matches, including the 2018 AWCON, the 2019 AFCON qualifiers, the 2022 World Cup and 2023 AFCON qualifying matches were played at both the Accra and Baba Yara Stadia respectively.

“The recent 13th African Games, Accra 2023 football competition matches were also played at the Accra and Cape Coast stadia,” said the statement.

“The publications by the MP sought to mislead the public that all these monies were paid without the corresponding work done, following recent issues with the Baba Yara pitch. Below is, however a list of scope of renovation works done on the Accra, Baba Yara and Essipong stadia,” the statement added, as it gave a detailed background to dangerous defects at the stadia, particularly the Accra stadium, as well as the full scope of works done to various sections of the Accra, Baba Yara and Essipon stadia, which are ongoing.

While admitting the poor state of the Baba Yara pitch, which is said to have been caused by social activities after the Naitional Sports Authority (NSA) rented it out, the Ministry said it is wrong for Okudzeto to use the state of the pitch to insinuate that no work was done.

According to the Ministry, stadia were left in complete ruins by the erstwhile NDC Government, between 2009 and 2017, when Okudzeto was in government.

“It is disingenuous for the Hon Member of Parliament of North Tongu to use the recent state of the Baba Yara Stadium to create the impression that no work has been done at the aforementioned national stadia.

“It is also important to stress that, between 2009 and 2017, the erstwhile government, of which the Hon. MP was a member, did not carry out any major renovation on the Accra, Baba Yara and Essipong stadia.”

Source:onuaonline.com